Jasmine Mans maps the geography of Black girlhood, queer identity, and urban life through spoken-word-influenced verse. This collection navigates the literal and metaphorical distance between the poet’s roots in Newark, New Jersey, and the complexities of adulthood. Mans examines specific cultural moments and figures, ranging from the death of Whitney Houston to the systemic disappearance of Black girls. She uses direct language to dissect the dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship, the reality of public transit, and the reclamation of physical space in a society that often demands silence.
Readers who value narrative poetry and the intersection of social commentary with personal history will find this work useful. It serves those looking for an unfiltered look at the tensions between religious upbringing and sexual orientation. The audience gains a framework for understanding how memory shapes current identity and how to articulate the specific griefs and joys of the African American experience. The text provides a mechanism for returning to one’s foundational self when the outside world feels hostile or disjointed.
- Published
- 2021
- Language
- EN
